Panasonic to start production at Haryana's Jhajjar facility by Nov, 2012

OSAKA: Japanese electronics major Panasonic will start production from its upcoming manufacturing facility at Jhajjar, in Haryana, by November, 2012, bringing out washing machines, air-conditioners and welding equipment.

"We will commence manufacturing facility at Jhajjar plant in Haryana by November, 2012," Panasonic India President Daizo Ito told reporters here.

Panasonic India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Japan-headquartered Panasonic Corporation, is in the process of investing USD 200 million over a five-year period on the facility, dubbed the Panasonic Techno Park.

The new plant would cater to the domestic market and can produce 10 lakh air-conditioners, four lakh washing machines and 25,000 welding machines units annually.

The Japanese firm said construction work on the plant commenced in April this year and is expected to be completed by April, 2012.

It will be used to manufacture air-conditioners, washing machines, welding and cutting machines after March, 2012.

The company also said it will increase its overall workforce in India to 12,650 employees by the end of this year from the current strength of 10,500 employees.

Ito said the company would focus on the healthcare and beauty products categories to drive growth in India in the coming years. The firm said it invested Rs 600 crore on various brand-building and marketing initiatives last fiscal.